Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustrated Book
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year
In this wordless picture book, a little girl collects wildflowers while her distracted father pays her little attention. Each flower becomes a gift, and whether the gift is noticed or ignored, both giver and recipient are transformed by their encounter.
“Written” by award-winning poet JonArno Lawson and brought to life by illustrator Sydney Smith, Sidewalk Flowers is an ode to the importance of small things, small people and small gestures.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustrated Book
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year
In this wordless picture book, a little girl collects wildflowers while her distracted father pays her little attention. Each flower becomes a gift, and whether the gift is noticed or ignored, both giver and recipient are transformed by their encounter.
“Written” by award-winning poet JonArno Lawson and brought to life by illustrator Sydney Smith, Sidewalk Flowers is an ode to the importance of small things, small people and small gestures.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Mar 1, 2015 |
| Specifications | 32 pages | 8.75 in x 8.75 in |
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Supporting Resources
(select item to download) |
Teacher's Guide Guide |
| Written By |
JONARNO LAWSON’S internationally acclaimed picture book Sidewalk Flowers won the Governor General’s Literary Award and was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book, among many other accolades. He is a four-time winner of the Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Children’s Poetry and the author of numerous books for children and adults. JonArno lives in Toronto with his wife and three children. |
| Illustrated by |
SYDNEY SMITH was born in rural Nova Scotia and has been drawing from an early age. Since graduating from NSCAD University, he has illustrated numerous children’s books, including the highly acclaimed wordless picture book Sidewalk Flowers, conceived by Jon Arno Lawson, which won a Governor General’s Award, among many other honours, and was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book. He is also the illustrator of Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, and which won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Prize. Small in the City is the first picture book that Sydney has written as well as illustrated. He lives and works in Toronto with his wife and son. |
| Written By |
|
JONARNO LAWSON’S internationally acclaimed picture book Sidewalk Flowers won the Governor General’s Literary Award and was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book, among many other accolades. He is a four-time winner of the Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Children’s Poetry and the author of numerous books for children and adults. JonArno lives in Toronto with his wife and three children. |
| Illustrated by |
|
SYDNEY SMITH was born in rural Nova Scotia and has been drawing from an early age. Since graduating from NSCAD University, he has illustrated numerous children’s books, including the highly acclaimed wordless picture book Sidewalk Flowers, conceived by Jon Arno Lawson, which won a Governor General’s Award, among many other honours, and was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book. He is also the illustrator of Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, and which won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Prize. Small in the City is the first picture book that Sydney has written as well as illustrated. He lives and works in Toronto with his wife and son. |
| Audience | ages 4 to 7 / grades P to 2 |
| Common Core | CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 |
Winner, Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustrated Books, 2015
Commended, New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year, 2015
Long-listed, Goodreads Choice Award for Best Picture Book, 2015
Commended, Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, 2015
Commended, Kirkus Best Picture Books of the Year, 2015
Commended, School Library Journal Best Picture Books of the Year, 2015
Commended, Horn Book Fanfare, 2015
Commended, 49th Shelf Favourite Picture Books of the Year, 2015
“A poignant, wordless storyline . . . this ode to everyday beauty sings sweetly.” —Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW
“A reminder that what looks like play can sometimes be a sacrament.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“An emotionally moving, visually delightful ode to the simple powers of observation and empathy. . . . A book to savor slowly and then revisit again and again.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“Sidewalk Flowers wraps readers in kindness, tenderness, generosity and wonder.” —Quill & Quire, STARRED REVIEW
“A quiet, graceful book about the perspective-changing wonder of humble, everyday pleasures.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Affecting, efficient, moving, kind. Lawson’s done the impossible. He wrote poetry into a book without a single word, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.” —A Fuse #8 Production
“I’d give this book to anyone with a coffee table, in a household with or without children.” —New York Times